Astorino damages health care access

In Phil Reisman's column, he cites a Democratic poll as the reason why county executive challenger Noam Bramson "... keeps harping on the subject (of abortion), even though it has absolutely nothing to do with the role of county executive."

Rob Astorino would like people to think that his extreme views on women's health do not affect or guide his work as county executive. I wish that were the case, but Mr. Astorino has unfortunately taken extremist positions while in office that directly affect women.

Last year, Astorino vetoed a clinic access bill to protect women from bullying and harassment as they try to enter reproductive health centers. That kind of intimidation can lead to violence, and only prevents women from accessing essential services. The bill passed in the legislature.

This is a real problem in New York, which is why cities like Buffalo and Rochester have passed laws similar to the one Astorino vetoed. Despite his claims otherwise, these laws have been upheld by the Supreme Court as constitutional. Perhaps that's why Astorino was honored by the Westchester-Putnam Right to Life PAC for his work to limit a woman's access to preventive health services.

Advocates on both sides of women's health know that local laws and local leaders matter. It's time for Astorino to stop pretending otherwise.

Lisa Eisenstein

Larchmont

The writer is a board member of the Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic Action Fund.